Bruce Wayne has entirely too many secrets that he doesnβt realize are secrets.
Heβs traveled the world and has seen and experienced shit. He often forgets that people arenβt detectives like him so they have no fucking clue.
Bruce has extensive βdad loreβ that not even Alfred knows about. Bruce just never thinks of it as necessary to talk about.
Theyβll be having dinner and Bruce will be like βThat reminds me of that one time I climbed the direct route up to the East Face on Mt. Everest.β
And itβs a completely WTF moment for all his kids to realize they donβt know shit about Bruceβs life before they came into it.
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More little shit who goes along with whatever prank his kids are doing Bruce Wayne
Dick: B, this is gonna sound crazy butβ¦
Tim: We mightβve implied that you gave birth to Damianβ¦
Jason: The press is having a field day
Bruce: *remembering all the times he stated that he gave birth to all of his boys and Cass* How irresponsible, did you even doctor any maternity photos? *sips coffee*
Wrote this a while ago for I think an Angsty August prompt but never posted it. Stumbled across it a few days ago and realized I actually liked it, so here it is
Rated: T | Words: 935 | CW: Anxiety attack | Tags: hurt/comfort, Eddie Munson needs a hug, Steve Harrington has chronic pain, Eddie Munson takes care of Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson loves Steve Harrington, Steve Harrington loves Eddie Munson, the stress and imperfection of caring for someone with a chronic illness
-
There are bills. There are always fucking bills β a pile of them lying on the kitchen table where Eddie sits now, head hanging, hair clenched in his fists as he tries to breathe.
Heβs pulling so hard that heβs giving himself a headache, and it nearly makes him laugh, but he refrains. He gets the feeling that if he starts, he might not stop β heβll get louder and louder, maybe get a little hysterical, and then heβll disturb Steve, whoβs currently laid up with the mother of all headaches. Eddieβs little tension headache pales in comparison to the might of the migraine.
At least itβs Saturday. Steve hadnβt had to miss another shift, and Eddie is free to stay home and keep him company. Not that thereβs much Eddie can do; he takes another shaking breath, trying to burst the band of anxiety wrapped tight around his chest, but his thoughts keep racing.
The envelopes piled on the table stare back at him as he blinks watery eyes down at his placemat, rent and utilities and medical bills all crying out for payment. Eddieβs job is barely enough to keep them afloat, and Steve β he helps as much as he can. His new job doesnβt pay as much as his last had, but fewer and more flexible hours reduce the chances heβll get fired after calling out one too many times (like his last job).
(And Eddie can admit, if only in the privacy of his own head, to some frustrated, bitter thoughts in his weaker moments, wondering why Steve canβt just push through his pain like Eddie does. There are days when Eddieβs scars act up, when his body aches and he wants nothing more than to stay in bed, but he doesnβt.
But then he sees the results of Steve βpushing through itβ β ignoring the way his whole body hurts, moving until he physically canβt anymore, until even breathing feels painful. Shoving off the impending signs of a migraine until they get mornings like this one: vomiting and stuttering and auras, sitting on the bathroom floor until Eddie can coax him back to bed.
He sees it, sees how much it kills Steve that he canβt do more, and feels ashamed.)
It isnβt just the bills weighing on Eddieβs mind, though. More even than money troubleβsomething with which Eddie at least has experienceβitβs Steve thatβs scaring him the most. The days when heβs overwhelmed by pain or by exhaustion, by fogginess and migraines, seem to be increasing, and Eddie doesnβt know what to do.
Scrape together enough money to go see another specialist who will tell them shit they already know and recommend treatments they canβt afford?
(Eddie would. If Steveβs doctor gave him yet another referral, Eddie would find a way to make it work. Heβs just not sure anymore that it would help.)
He hates feeling useless. Hates sitting by, unable to do a damn thing, unable to solve the problem, stuck in place just like he had been in high school, dead weight, no good to anybodyβ
A rustling of sheets followed by a quiet groan reaches Eddieβs ears from the bedroom, snapping him from his spiral.
He sits up, then, releasing his hair and rubbing his hands over his cheeks, catching any stray moisture from beneath his eyes. He takes a few deep breaths, shaking less now, and stands from the table. There is one thing he can do, and even if it doesnβt feel like enough, Eddie is going to do it.
The bedroom is dim, curtains drawn over east-facing windows that blessedly get less light in the afternoon. The bed is a wreck of pillows and sheets, moved around or cast aside in an effort to alleviate the pain, to warm up or stay cool through a fluctuating body temperature. Steve lies in the middle of it all, turned now to face the door, one arm stretched over the empty space where Eddie had been.
His eyes are closed, but Eddieβs pretty sure heβs awake β sure enough, he pulls his arm back as soon as the bed dips under Eddieβs weight. Eddie slides back beneath the sheets and takes Steveβs hand with a gentle squeeze.
βHey.β
Steve hums, eyes still closed, squeezing Eddieβs hand back. βWhereβd you go?β
βJust got up to stretch my legs,β Eddie answers (itβs an easy lie, one Eddie feels no guilt over, because itβs better than explaining that heβd gotten up to avoid waking Steve with the anxiety attack that had built in his chest the longer heβd lain in the silence of their bedroom, watching the furrow between Steveβs brows that made him look pained even in his sleep).
After a moment, Steveβs eyes flutter open, searching Eddieβs face. Whatever he finds there makes his frown deepen.
βKinda ruined our weekend, huh?β he says quietly. ββm sorry youβre stuck with me like this.β
βDonβt,β Eddie says lowly. βNever apologize. Iβm not stuck with you, I love you.β He leans up, presses a kiss to Steveβs forehead, and Steve sighs.
He takes their joined hands and brings them to his lips, kissing the back of Eddieβs. βI love you, too,β he murmurs against Eddieβs skin.
βYou need anything?β Eddie asks, before he really settles in.
Steve makes a noise in the negative. βJust you,β he says, lips still brushing Eddieβs hand. βThatβs enough.β
Eddie canβt help the overwhelmed tears that well up in his eyes again. This is enough β theyβre enough. As long as Eddie has Steve, they can figure the rest out together.
Whenever his kids are being little shits, more so than usual, Bruce will definitely go on social media and make problems
The public loves the batboys but Bruce Wayne will always be their #1
They rally around him immediately and in 2.5 seconds all the batboys being canceled is trending on Twitter
Bruce enjoys it a lot but shuts down any posts that are genuinely offensive, racist, or suggest that Bruce shouldβve never adopted them
But other than that, he loves seeing his kids annoyed faces when people online are telling them to be nice to their Dad.
ββ
Bruce: *posts a video to Twitter. Heβs sniffling and teary eyed with a wobbly smile on his face, obviously trying not to break down and cry* Hey Twitterβ¦ d-does anyone know how to make your kids n-nicer to you *sob* n-nothing happenedβ¦ I justβ¦ never mind Iβm sorry about this. T-theyβll be mad at me if they find out. I donβt want them mad again *phone falls onto the bed and muffled sobbing is heard before the video abruptly ends with the sound of the the batboys busting in and yelling at Bruce*
Dick: Bruce! I lost over 10 thousand followers! What did you do!?
Bruce: *wiping his tears away with a stoic face* What do you mean Chum? I havenβt done anything
Tim: *screech from the ether* BRUCE! WHAT DID YOU DO?!
Bruce: Youβre all so mean to me *surpressing a grin*
Jason: This is exactly why I deleted my account
ββ
This happens like twice a year. Sometimes more if theyβve really been pissing him off.
On the downside, all of his kids refuse to go to any Gala with him, so heβs gotta suffer alone. They refuse to be in front of the media until it all dies down
Bruce makes them some brownies and allows them to pick their patrol route for the next week for forgiveness
Bruce walks into the kitchen one day at breakfast and sticks a golden star right on Dickβs forehead.
Silence overtakes all of his kids as they stare incredulously because what the actual fuck??
βB?β Dick questioned warily, going crossed eyed as he tried to stare at the star in his forehead.
βCongratulations Dickie, you have successfully made only five death threats to individuals this entire week.β Bruce said solemnly, patting Dick on the head before turning to face his other children.
βUnfortunately, I will not be giving out any more gold stars.β Bruceβs eyes gazed at his children, particularly staying on Jason and Damian for a second longer than anyone elseβs.
βWha-? What about me??β Duke protested, throwing down his fork, a small splatter of syrup splashing onto the new wood varnish.
Bruce raised an eyebrow. βDuke, Iβm Batman.β
βRight.β Duke muttered, slumping back down in his chair. βStupid pickpocketers, next time Iβll make sure they canβt squeal.β
βFather! I demand a recount!β Damianβs chair squeaked loudly as he shot up from it, his small face set in a stubborn frown so similar to Bruceβs. βGrayson made two death threats to thugs on patrol yesterday.β
βFucking tattle tale!β Dick hissed, grabbing his forehead and scampering away from Bruce, just in case he tried to take away his good star.
Bruce nodded and looked thoughtful. βHmm, seven death threatsβ¦ Iβll allow it. However, seven has become the cap in order to get a gold star.β
βOne for everyday of the week!β Jason grinned, his eyes zeroing in on a barely awake Tim. βAnd since Iβm long past the thresholdβ¦β Bruce slapped him on the back of the head, making him curse.
Cass tugs on Bruceβs sleeve and points to herself, the silent question very loud. βNo Cass, your whole existence is a threat but also Stephanie likes to talk.β
Cass clicks her tongue and sits back down, phone already in hand, probably texting Stephanie about her betrayal.
βLooks like Dick is winning.β Bruce stated, suppressing a smirk as all of his kids heads whipped around and stared at him. Of course they would take the bait, there were as competitive as he was.
Even Tim now looked mostly aware of what was happening.
βItβs a new week, good luck.β Bruce nodded, walking out of the dining room, a grin breaking out across his face as the room erupted with noise.
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big fan of Damian in the mikel janΓn style that is talia al ghuls baby he looks like her so much. al ghul face card doesnβt decline and personally I think we should draw him to look like her instead of Bruce clone 27
warnings: n$fw, f/m, p in v, dom!spence if you squint really hard, do a cartwheel and take your glasses off, aftercare! sleepy s3x
summary: wracked with migraines, you wake Spencer up with your crying. Overwhelmed and exhausted, he seeks the easiest possible method to make you go to sleep.
a/n: this did NOT seem as long when i was writing it.
"ughh-" Spencer groaned, rolling over and rubbing his tired eyes.
you were crying softly, tears muffled into your pillow as your frame shook. Okayy, maybe you were being a tad bit dramatic.
"headaches again?" he murmured.
you nodded, rolling over to face him. enveloped in darkness, your eyes had to adjust to see him, but you were pleased when you did. his face was flushed from sleep, brows knit together and brown curly hair slightly tousled. "yeah." you replied solemnly. "and I can't sleep, at all. I woke you up. didn't I?"
he nodded, unamused.
"oh.. 'm sorry."
"it's okay," his face softened when he sensed how apologetic you were. "it's not your fault. can you sleep?"
your hand on the back of your neck, you shook your head again. he huffed in response.
"at all?"
"no, my head is killing me. You know what i'm talking about."
he sighed. "yeah, I do, but you need to sleep. we gotta go to work tomorrow."
Everything was too much. Your head hurt too much, you were too tired, you were dreading work, and Spencer's tone was much harsher then usual. Like a neglected pot on the stove, all of your emotions boiled over at once and you began to cry once again.
"oh-" Spencer was disheartened at your recurring tears. He scooted over and brought you close to his chest, resting his chin on the top of your head. "Please don't cry."
you sniffled. "I'm soo t-tired, i just want to sleep.."
"I know you do," he consoled you. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"...no.."
His next words came in a whisper. "..I could.. you know, try something to help you sleep."
that was enough to stop your crying for a second. sniffling your tears away, you pulled your head up and met his downcast brown eyes. "..what are you suggesting?"
" 'm not suggesting anything. I'm just reminding you, Orgasms release chemicals like Oxytocin and Prolactin, which can lower stress levels and induce drowsiness. They also temporarily reduce the bodies cortisol levels, whi-"
"prove it?" you smiled and cut him off, a little lost for words.
he stalled for a second. "oh... okay."
he quickly got to work, sitting up and grabbing his glasses off the nightstand. you quirked a brow.
"You're putting your glasses on? interesting method of foreplay."
"no, its just- I wanna be able to see you clearly." he cleaned the lenses with the collar of his shirt, slipping them on. "Y'know, when I make you cum?"
you just kind of stared up at him, dumbfounded. it looks like the night brought out a whole different vocabulary in this man. managing an eager nod, you got closer to him.
he slipped under the blankets, and you felt his warm hands on your legs, eliciting a shiver that ran through you like lightning. You were a little disappointed he chose to hide under the covers, but accepted the warmth.
this man wasn't wasting any time. Your already-on-edge nerves felt a string of warm, sloppy kisses up and down your thighs. You slept in only a t shirt and underwear, most nights- including this one, so there was little barrier between you and his lips.
god, those lips.
He considered this quick and anticlimactic, but the little teasing he was performing was driving you crazy. your legs shook in anticipation, and you tried your best not to cry out in joy when you felt his hands hook under your panties and slide them down, down, down, all the way to your ankles- one hand trailing along your leg in this fluid motion.
finally, god, you felt a small, polite kiss pressed to your clit. you practically could have come undone right then and there, if not for a pang of sharp pain hitting your head at the same time, a small 'ah!-" escaping you.
"I know, cm'on. shh." He said from under the blanket, rubbing deep circles into your hips with a free hand.
He licked a lazy stripe up your core, the lightning-strike of pleasure hitting you once again.
"mm- fuck-" you whispered, a quiet plea for only him to hear. He licked another long stripe, patiently anticipating more moans, which he received.
pressing small circles into your most sensitive spots, he eagerly worked you up to the edge. this teasing was driving you crazy, and your breath was quick and harsh.
"spence!" you whined, and heard a groan from him, his grips tightening on your thighs. The tip of his nose pushed against your clit as his tongue dipped and swirled, and you swear your vision went blurry for just a second.
"cm'on-" he murmured.
Your approaching climax was painfully obvious to you, every muscle in your body clenching as he worked magic on you. a hand flew under the covers, intertwining with his hair as a desperate moan poured from your lips. with that, you came, your head flying back to rest against the pillow as your frame shook.
he pulled his head out from under the covers, a smile spreading on his features. "Satisfactory, hmm?"
That was intense. If anything, you were more awake.
"I.. I think i'm less tired."
his brows knit together as he wiped some of the liquid off of his chin, licking his fingers clean for the sole purpose of tasting you.
"ah. I guess you'll just have to cum again."
unable to retort, you simply nodded and watched greedily as he tossed off his shirt, making quick work of his pants and boxers. He captured your waiting lips in a messy kiss, trailing little pecks up and down your cheek. He settled atop you, gazing into your flushed face for just a second.
"I love you." he mused.
"...I love you, too."
he placed more kisses to your neck and collarbone as his free hand aligned himself with your entrance, and you both held your breath. when he pushed into you, feeling your warmth envelop him, you both gasped at the same time.
"fuck-'
'ah-"
he rested his head in the crook of your neck, pushing allll the way inside you. when he was satisfied you had adjusted, he began moving at a punishingly slow pace, butterflies flittering about your stomach once again.
on hand beside you, one on the headboard, he pushed into you again and again, taking up a punishingly fast speed. you simply laid upon the pillow, a moaning shaking mess.
"so, so perfect 'f me, god-" he groaned.
wishing to be somehow deeper inside you, he abandoned the headboard and grabbing your hips, knees planted in the mattress for stability. you put a hand in your hair, a feeble attempt to ground yourself. as if things couldn't get any better, his hand slipped between you two- rubbing fervent circles on your clit, eliciting a string of desperate noises.
after what very well could have been an eternity, you both approached the finish. he gripped your hips desperately hard, his breaths coming shakily.
"oh, my- Spence!"
he buried himself deep into you as you two finished in unison, breath fleeting from your lungs as your head swam with pleasure- and the glaring absence of a migraine.
' "m gonna pull out, okay?"
"mhm- o.. okay."
he slid away and resumed his place beside you. pulling the covers over the both of you and placing a soft kiss to your temple, he sat up momentarily to remove his crooked, now fogged up glasses.
As you came down from your high, the shaking in your legs and the rushing of your pulse calming, you felt your eyelids droop. He pulled you closer to him and left a kiss on your lips, tinged with the soft sting of finality.
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It's Wayne that goes with him when he buys the truck. He offers to go with him. Uses one of his few days off to do it.
On the way there, it strikes Steve that his own father would never do this with him. The man hadn't even bought the Beemer himself, just sent an assistant to take care of it. And here Wayne is, driving them to a used car dealership, humming along to some old country-western song on the radio.
It takes three dealerships for them to find it, but Wayne is patient, stoic, takes careful note of the cars that catch Steve's interest. He asks the salesman if he can pop the hood, peers at the engine, kicks the tires. He asks questions Steve would never think of, about adjustments to the odometer, history of repairs, if it was in any accidents.
Steve never considered wanting a truck, doesn't think it's his style. But he's walking the lot at the third dealership, and he sees it. It's a Chevy, blue and white, a few years old. It's in good condition, but was obviously used for work.
He walks towards it.
"You like this one?" Wayne asks. If he's surprised, he doesn't show it.
"Yeah, it's--yeah," Steve nods.
Wayne does his checks, asks his questions, gives a nod of approval.
It's the first car he takes on a test drive.
He barely has it on the road before he knows it's the one. It surprises him. He always thought he was his true self in the BMW, but now--the engine has a throaty grumble to it, can feel it rumbling through his foot on the pedal, and it's--it's--perfect.
"This it?" Wayne asks as they pull back into the lot.
"Yeah, yes. It's. Yeah."
"Well, let's get to hagglin."
Wayne is, of course, an expert haggler. By the end of it, he's got a couple thousand dollars knocked off the asking price, Steve more than within budget.
They drive back to Wayne's little house on the outskirts of Hawkins, the one the government gave him, the sun just disappearing behind the horizon.
Eddie stands on the small porch, wide smile on his face.
"Wow, Wayne," he says. He wraps an arm around his uncle's shoulders. "You really did a number on him."
"It's a solid vehicle, Ed."
"Never took you for a truck man, Harrington," Eddie teases.
"Can't you see how gorgeous she is?"
Eddie raises an eyebrow, his smile not faltering. "Wow, it's true love then."
"Looks like it. Wanna come for a ride?"
There's only a second where Eddie hesitates, but then he's running inside to grab shoes, tripping on his way to the truck.
---
It happened like this:
Eddie Munson died in the Upside Down in 1986.
He's reanimated by Vecna for the final battle, a puppet to do his master's bidding.
When they win, when Vecna is dead in a pile of dessicated vines, they can't find Eddie. Scour the Upside Down for him and come up empty. They have to assume he's dead, like everything else there, kept alive only by Vecna's power. None of them want to leave without him, but the world is destabilized, they can't stay, El has to close the gates.
That night, Steve pulls the battle vest from under his bed, sobs into the blood-soaked denim, the grief from the loss just as fresh as March of '86.
He and the kids, they go visit Wayne. It becomes a regular thing.
Two weeks after the end of Vecna, Wayne calls him. He's panicked, near hysterical, nothing like the man Steve's come to know.
He goes, fast as he can, to Wayne's house. All the lights are off, the front door ajar, and he runs, clattering into the living room.
Wayne is in the recliner, face pale and strained, and on the couch--on the couch--
Eddie Munson.
His hair's lank, his skin sallow, the light in his eyes dim, but it's him. Unquestionably.
Steve does the only thing he can think of, calls Hopper. He shows up a little while later with El and Will.
"I called Owens," Hopper says.
"Why would you do that?" Steve is angry.
"Look, kid, I get it. But none of us are equipped to deal with this."
He's right, so they wait.
It doesn't take the doctor, El, and Will long to figure that Eddie is Eddie, even though his heart beats a little slow and his skin's always cold and his blood is slightly the wrong color. He's still at least 75% human, and that's enough.
Only those six people know. It's dangerous to tell anyone else when the world still thinks Eddie Munson is a serial murderer. Owens asks for time to clear his name, and they have no choice but to agree.
After two days, Steve thinks he should give Eddie and Wayne space, but as he rises to go, Eddie's hand grips his wrist. "Stay?" He asks. Steve doesn't leave.
It's hard, keeping the secret from the rest of the kids, Robin. He wants to tell her, more than anything. About how they share a bed most nights, how he's memorizing the shape of Eddie's body in a way he shouldn't, how the gentle desire turns to profound longing--but Eddie's safety is the most important thing, so Steve keeps it to himself.
---
They go out in Steve's truck almost every night, always on backroads. It's the only way Eddie can leave the house.
It's Steve's favorite thing, the only time Eddie seems truly happy. They roll the windows down, turn the music up, and whip around deserted farm roads. Sometimes, Eddie will stick his head out the window, shout out into the night.
Steve is in love with him.
He has no idea if Eddie feels the same, figures it doesn't matter. He'll harbor this flame for the rest of his life without complaint because Eddie is alive.
He thinks he's done a good job at hiding his feelings, thinks he's able to avert his gaze, hide his blush, when Eddie comes out of his room in only his boxers, thinks Eddie hasn't noticed how Steve's eyes linger when they share joints lying in the bed of the truck.
Except tonight--tonight--they're driving back home, and Eddie, he's been quiet, distant, fidgety, and now he reaches out to turn down the radio, which has Steve's stomach in a knot.
"You--Steve, you've been so great. To me and Wayne, and--you're family, you know? To us, you're--but--"
And Steve thinks this is it, that Eddie noticed, that he's being let down easy, and he wants to throw up, cry, but Eddie's still talking.
"You have a life to live, right? You're--you're 23 and you're not stuck here like me, and I know Robin is ready to go and the kids are--they're going to college soon, and you shouldn't stay here for me, I'm--"
"What?" Steve says.
"What?" Eddie echoes.
"I don't want to leave," Steve says.
"But--"
"Where you are is where I want to be."
"I'm in love with you," Eddie says. Cover his face with his hands.
Steve pulls the truck to the shoulder. His hands are shaking.
"You love me?"
"I'm sorry." His apology is muffled. "I didn't mean--I know this fucks up--"
"Eddie." He says, soft. "Look at me?"
One deep brown eye peers up at him. "Eddie, I--I'm hopelessly in love with you."
Both eyes now, mouth a bright curve. "You mean it, Harrington?"
"Fuck, can't get enough of you, Munson."
"You know, if I thought for a second anything like was possible, I would've--fuck, I would've made a move ages ago. I would've--"
"Shut-up," he whispers against Eddie's mouth. "Kiss me."
---
And later, Robin will ask if he has someone, and he'll say yes, and she'll ask, soft, "is it him?" and he'll nod, and they'll both cry.
Later, a news report, Eddie Munson's body was recovered from the bottom of Sattler Quarry, bearing the same wounds as Vecna's other victims.
Later, Chief Powell will hold a press conference, say they're looking for a man named Henry Creel, wanted on suspicion of killing his mother and sister and the aggravated assault of his father with an MO that matches the 1986 killing spree.
Later, Steve will shave Eddie's head, Eddie crying softly as the hair tumbles to the bathroom floor. Steve will kiss the tears away, one by one, say, "I know it's hard to let go. But we'll move away, to a place where people say 'you look like that guy, that Eddie Munson,' and you'll say, 'I get that a lot,' and your hair will grow back, if you want it to."
Later, they'll invite everyone to Wayne's , everyone except Dustin, busy in Boston with an internship, and Eddie will be there to welcome them.
Later, he and Eddie will take the truck, drive up to Boston. And Eddie, he'll spy Dustin first, walks up to him and says, "Pretty metal tattoos, little dude," and they'll all cry until Dustin stops to yell at them for keeping the secret.
Later, Steve and Eddie will leave MIT--Dustin screeching that they have to call him every night promptly at 8pm still ringing in their ears-- in search of their future.